All of us are keen to prove that we belong here: Axar Patel

All-rounder Axar Patel missed the recently concluded ODI World Cup owing to injury. However, he’s back in the side for the five-match T20 series against Australia starting in Visakhapatnam on Thursday evening. Post the Indian team’s practice session on Wednesday, the 29-year-old spoke exclusively to JioCinema.  

On expectations from the series against Australia: “Everyone knows that we suffered heartbreak in the World Cup final. But it’s time to move on. We have a young team that will play Australia in the T20Is. All of us are keen to prove that we belong here. There’s a lot of energy in the team. It’s just that we have only 10-11 T20 international matches to go before the T20 World Cup to make an impression.

So, all of us have been told to play according to our strengths. There’s no need for us to do something brand new. We have been told to express ourselves and move ahead. We have five matches against Australia and all of us know that they are a good side. We are not going to put ourselves under undue pressure. We will try and enjoy the games we play.” 

I am keen on doing well in all departments of the game: Axar Patel

On your mindset after returning from injury: “The mindset remains the same as what it was before I had to miss the World Cup due to injury. But I am fit again and am keen on doing well in all departments of the game. I have not made any changes and am focussing on the processes. I don’t want to make much changes to my mindset. I am not looking at this series from the view that I am among the senior players in the team now. I just want to continue doing what I was before the injury.”